Seeking Inspiration

I have a daughter who is 9 and a half (the half is very important to her) and am now on the way to welcoming her first sibling, another baby girl. The thing is my daughter is named [name_f]Juno[/name_f] and she loves how she’s never met another [name_f]Juno[/name_f] before and insists she wants to make sure her baby sister has a name that is just as cool. This has made my search for names a bit of a nightmare because she tends to turn down most names that I like.

My original list: [name_f]Ella[/name_f], [name_f]Cora[/name_f], [name_f]Lily[/name_f], [name_f]Pearl[/name_f], [name_f]Nova[/name_f] and [name_f]Clara[/name_f]. I realize they are a bit different in style to [name_f]Juno[/name_f] (a bit less daring), but I have significantly changed my tastes in the past decade, lol.

Here are the names she “just” likes and that I could see myself using but don’t love enough: [name_f]Arabella[/name_f], [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f], [name_f]Celeste[/name_f], [name_f]Georgiana[/name_f], [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] and [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] ([name_f]Trixie[/name_f]).

Her actual favorites include [name_f]Christabel[/name_f], [name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f], [name_f]Persephone[/name_f], Contessa, [name_f]Vivica[/name_f], [name_f]Marcella[/name_f], Vesuvia, [name_f]Monique[/name_f] and all sorts of exotic names she circled and highlighted in the baby name books we have lol.

Help us find a middle ground please?!

[name_m]How[/name_m] about:

[name_f]Mirabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Isabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Ramona[/name_f]
[name_f]Laurel[/name_f]
[name_f]Margot[/name_f]
[name_f]Jessamine[/name_f]
[name_f]Helena[/name_f]
[name_f]Claudia[/name_f]
[name_f]Ingrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Noelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f]

I like the suggestion [name_f]Mirabel[/name_f], but I notice that your preferred names are all quite short, so maybe [name_f]Mira[/name_f] would work even better? For a true compromise, you could use [name_f]Mirabel[/name_f], nn [name_f]Mira[/name_f]. Also, if you like [name_f]Cora[/name_f] and [name_f]Clara[/name_f], perhaps you would like [name_f]Clary[/name_f], as well. It could also be used as a nickname for a longer name, such as [name_f]Clarinda[/name_f], [name_f]Clarissa[/name_f], or [name_f]Clarabel[/name_f]. I also see that you like [name_f]Lily[/name_f] and she likes [name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f]. So maybe a unique flower name would satisfy you both, such as: [name_f]Primrose[/name_f] (nn [name_f]Rose[/name_f] or Prim) Aubrietta (nn [name_f]Aubri[/name_f] or [name_f]Etta[/name_f]) [name_f]Iris[/name_f], [name_f]Clover[/name_f], [name_f]Flora[/name_f] or [name_f]Lavender[/name_f]. I also love [name_f]Fern[/name_f]! It is short and classic, but unique and spunky as well! Best of luck!!!

[name_f]Nova[/name_f], [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f], [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] and [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] are my favorites

[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Iris[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Luna[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Astrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Circe[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Lilith[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and Femi
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Elira[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and Liri
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Opal[/name_f]

Based on both of your choices, the following occurred to me:
[name_f]Daphne[/name_f]
[name_f]Eleni[/name_f] (sounds kind of like [name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f]!)
[name_f]Aurelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Cornelia[/name_f] (could shorten to [name_f]Cora[/name_f] or [name_f]Nell[/name_f] or [name_f]Ellie[/name_f]) or [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Miranda[/name_f]
[name_u]Simone[/name_u]
[name_f]Cosima[/name_f]
[name_f]Cassia[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucinda[/name_f]
[name_f]Clarissa[/name_f]
[name_u]Dominique[/name_u]
[name_f]Zoia[/name_f]
[name_f]Zara[/name_f]
[name_f]Anastasia[/name_f]

I kind of like [name_f]Christabel[/name_f], actually! For some reason I also like the idea of going with a Greek name, since [name_f]Juno[/name_f]'s is Latin/[name_m]Roman[/name_m], but Greek names seem to sound closer to the names you both like now.

[name_f]Elora[/name_f]
[name_f]Eliora[/name_f]
[name_f]Cressida[/name_f]
[name_f]Marcella[/name_f] nn [name_f]Ella[/name_f]?
[name_f]Estella[/name_f]
[name_f]Cleo[/name_f]
[name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] nn [name_f]Cora[/name_f]

First of all I want to say I love the input your daughter is having in naming her little sister :). I really like [name_f]Nova[/name_f] for a sister for [name_f]Juno[/name_f].
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Vienna[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Veda[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Clarissa[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Gretel[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_u]Emery[/name_u]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Hope[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Claudia[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Joy[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Alessia[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Celeste[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Flavia[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_u]Marley[/name_u]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and Meetia (Meh-[name_f]Tia[/name_f])
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and Mikaylee
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Luella[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_u]Darby[/name_u]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Adah[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Colette[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Elinor[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Giselle[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Bridget[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Samara[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_u]Sierra[/name_u]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_m]Jasper[/name_m]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Elodie[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Autumn[/name_f]

I think [name_f]Nova[/name_f] is a great match for [name_f]Juno[/name_f]. I also like [name_f]Marcella[/name_f], [name_f]Pearl[/name_f], and [name_f]Cora[/name_f], though [name_f]Cora[/name_f] seems more common than [name_f]Juno[/name_f]. From pps I like [name_f]Iris[/name_f], [name_f]Flora[/name_f], [name_f]Zara[/name_f], [name_f]Cassia[/name_f], [name_f]Lilith[/name_f], [name_f]Opal[/name_f], and [name_f]Claudia[/name_f]. I don’t have kids, so take this with a grain of salt, but it seems like this is the kind of thing where you could put your foot down and say “mom gets to decide.” She will get to name a baby when she has her own, and for now maybe she can name a pet.

Other ideas:

[name_f]Alba[/name_f]
[name_f]Amara[/name_f]
[name_f]Esther[/name_f]
[name_f]Greta[/name_f]
[name_f]Lola[/name_f]
[name_f]Selena[/name_f]
[name_f]Thalia[/name_f]
[name_f]Zadie[/name_f]
[name_f]Zella[/name_f]

Thinking back to names I loved as a child, I definitely gravitated toward really long, frilly, interesting names like your daughter!

But… maybe I wouldn’t make the EXACT same choices now for myself or my own child. I think it’s awesome that you’re involving your daughter in the naming process, but she is likely not thinking through long-term implications as much as you are. So, I would say…go with your gut and take the lead here. She will get over it if her sister has whatever name you choose!

Another way to look at this is to look at syllables. Your daughter is choosing three-syllable (+) names and you are gravitating toward one and two syllable names. Maybe focus on two syllables as a way to hone in on a more streamlined style that matches with [name_f]Juno[/name_f]. Then go for a more fantastical/dramatic vibe versus the more traditional/vintage vibe of [name_f]Cora[/name_f] & others on your list.

From your list, I really like [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] as a name that accomplishes this! It’s not dramatically unusual of course but I think [name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] are fabulous together. If I encountered this sibset, I’d definitely think the parent was striking the right side of creative and unique.

Other ideas that I will call “streamlined fantastical” (not all two syllable):
[name_f]Cleo[/name_f]
[name_f]Xanthe[/name_f]
[name_f]Nova[/name_f]
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]
[name_f]Vera[/name_f]
[name_f]Petra[/name_f]
[name_f]Coco[/name_f]
[name_f]Linnea[/name_f]
[name_f]Zinnia[/name_f]
[name_f]Daphne[/name_f]
[name_f]Maisie[/name_f]
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f]
[name_u]Simone[/name_u]
[name_f]Serena[/name_f]
[name_f]Calista[/name_f]
[name_f]Astrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Cassia[/name_f]
[name_f]Delia[/name_f]
[name_f]Thalia[/name_f]
[name_f]Gaia[/name_f]
[name_f]Helena[/name_f]
[name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Sibyl[/name_f]
[name_f]Thisbe[/name_f]
[name_f]Delphine[/name_f]
[name_f]Elowen[/name_f]
[name_f]Muse[/name_f]
[name_f]Oriana[/name_f]
[name_f]Saffron[/name_f]
[name_f]Zara[/name_f]

I think [name_f]Nova[/name_f] works especially well with [name_f]Juno[/name_f] from your favourites, and [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] is lovely. My first thoughts were [name_f]Cosima[/name_f] and [name_f]Lyra[/name_f].

Some others that might strike a happy medium:

[name_f]Alba[/name_f]
[name_f]Alma[/name_f]
[name_f]Anouk[/name_f]
[name_f]Cecily[/name_f]
[name_f]Danica[/name_f]
[name_f]Ellia[/name_f]
[name_u]Eloise[/name_u]
[name_f]Elora[/name_f]
[name_f]Elowen[/name_f]
[name_f]Elsa[/name_f]
[name_f]Elspeth[/name_f]
Esmée
[name_f]Estelle[/name_f]/a
[name_f]Eve[/name_f]
[name_f]Geneva[/name_f]
[name_f]Ginevra[/name_f]
[name_f]Helena[/name_f]
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]
[name_f]Lilia[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Nadia[/name_f]
[name_f]Opal[/name_f]
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f]
[name_f]Ramona[/name_f]
[name_u]Winter[/name_u]
[name_u]Wren[/name_u]
[name_f]Zosia[/name_f]

I think [name_f]Juno[/name_f] & [name_f]Nova[/name_f] make a really nice pairing stylistically. I also quite like [name_f]Juno[/name_f] & [name_f]Vivica[/name_f] ([name_f]Viv[/name_f] or [name_f]Vivi[/name_f] for short). Tons of great suggestions from previous posters too – I especially like [name_f]Juno[/name_f] & [name_f]Zara[/name_f]!

What about…

[name_u]Adair[/name_u], [name_f]Afton[/name_f], Astor, [name_f]Allegra[/name_f], [name_f]Araminta[/name_f], [name_f]Athena[/name_f], [name_f]Arwen[/name_f], [name_f]Aviva[/name_f], [name_f]Avril[/name_f], [name_f]Avalon[/name_f], Avonlea, [name_f]Audrina[/name_f]
[name_u]Bellamy[/name_u], [name_u]Blair[/name_u]
[name_f]Cadence[/name_f], [name_f]Calixta[/name_f], [name_f]Calla[/name_f], [name_u]Calypso[/name_u], [name_f]Capri[/name_f]/[name_f]Caprice[/name_f], [name_u]Carmen[/name_u], [name_f]Celine[/name_f], [name_f]Celestina[/name_f], [name_f]Clarabelle[/name_f], [name_f]Constantina[/name_f]/[name_u]Constantine[/name_u]
[name_f]Desiree[/name_f], [name_f]Dulcie[/name_f]
[name_f]Esme[/name_f]
[name_f]Faye[/name_f], [name_u]Fallon[/name_u], [name_f]Freya[/name_f]
[name_f]Gemma[/name_f], Georgica
[name_f]Hestia[/name_f], [name_f]Hermione[/name_f]
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f], [name_f]Isla[/name_f], [name_f]Isolde[/name_f]
[name_f]Jada[/name_f], [name_u]January[/name_u], [name_f]Jezebel[/name_f]
[name_f]Kismet[/name_f]
[name_f]Leilani[/name_f], [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f], Lorabelle, [name_f]Lucia[/name_f], Lumen
[name_u]Malin[/name_u], [name_f]Marin[/name_f]/Maryn/[name_f]Maren[/name_f], [name_m]Maxwell[/name_m], [name_f]Marina[/name_f], McKey, Medley, [name_f]Mercy[/name_f], [name_f]Melisandre[/name_f], [name_f]Melody[/name_f], Melrose, [name_f]Mila[/name_f], [name_f]Minerva[/name_f], [name_f]Merida[/name_f], [name_u]Micah[/name_u], [name_u]Mischa[/name_u], [name_f]Minka[/name_f], [name_f]Morgana[/name_f]
[name_f]Naomi[/name_f], [name_f]Novalie[/name_f]
[name_u]Oakley[/name_u], [name_f]Octavia[/name_f], [name_f]Odette[/name_f], [name_f]Odessa[/name_f], [name_f]Olive[/name_f], [name_f]Ottilie[/name_f]
[name_f]Pandora[/name_f], Pemberly, Perinelle ([name_f]Nell[/name_f]/[name_f]Nella[/name_f]), [name_f]Petra[/name_f], [name_f]Phaedra[/name_f], [name_f]Portia[/name_f], [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u]
[name_u]Quinn[/name_u]
[name_f]Raina[/name_f]/[name_f]Rayna[/name_f], [name_u]Raven[/name_u], [name_f]Regina[/name_f], [name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f], [name_f]Renata[/name_f], [name_f]Romilly[/name_f], [name_f]Rowena[/name_f], [name_f]Roxanne[/name_f], [name_u]Ruby[/name_u]
[name_f]Sabrina[/name_f], [name_u]Sage[/name_u], [name_f]Saskia[/name_f], [name_f]Selah[/name_f], [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f], [name_f]Serena[/name_f], [name_f]Starla[/name_f], [name_u]Sloane[/name_u], [name_f]Soleil[/name_f], [name_f]Solange[/name_f], [name_f]Sonata[/name_f], [name_u]Sterling[/name_u], [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f]
[name_f]Tabitha[/name_f], [name_f]Tahlia[/name_f], [name_f]Tallulah[/name_f], [name_f]Tamsin[/name_f], [name_f]Tawny[/name_f], [name_f]Tatiana[/name_f], [name_f]Thelma[/name_f], [name_f]Tiana[/name_f], [name_f]Thessaly[/name_f], [name_f]Twyla[/name_f]
[name_f]Ursula[/name_f]
[name_m]Vail[/name_m]/[name_u]Vale[/name_u], [name_f]Veda[/name_f]/[name_f]Vada[/name_f], [name_f]Valerie[/name_f], [name_f]Verity[/name_f], [name_f]Vesta[/name_f], [name_f]Viola[/name_f]
[name_u]Waverly[/name_u], [name_f]Willa[/name_f]
[name_u]Yale[/name_u]
[name_f]Zarina[/name_f], [name_f]Zelda[/name_f], [name_f]Zilla[/name_f], [name_f]Zora[/name_f]

I’m kind of obsessed with [name_f]Juno[/name_f] & [name_f]Olive[/name_f]! And [name_f]Juno[/name_f] & [name_u]Blair[/name_u] or [name_f]Juno[/name_f] & [name_f]Freya[/name_f]…

It’s really sweet that your daughter is so involved in this naming process with you! Her taste in names is very cool, and that’s not something I can say about most kids her age!

In fact, the best match I can see for [name_f]Juno[/name_f] out of the names you mentioned comes from your daughter’s list: [name_f]Persephone[/name_f]. Both names are accessible but fairly uncommon in real life. They also both have mythological ties! If your taste hadn’t changed from [name_f]Juno[/name_f], [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] is exactly the sort of name I’d expect you to use next!

However, the point was that it has changed, so names similar to [name_f]Juno[/name_f] are probably not what you’re aiming for. If you look at this from another angle, one thing about your taste hasn’t changed: you seem to prefer shorter names. Meanwhile, your daughter’s picks are long and fanciful. Perhaps the appropriate middle ground here would be a name that’s short and to-the-point like [name_f]Lily[/name_f] but rare like [name_f]Arabella[/name_f].

Some suggestions I really like for you: [name_f]Lyra[/name_f], [name_f]Opal[/name_f], [name_u]Wren[/name_u], [name_f]Flora[/name_f]

A few others:
[name_f]Aster[/name_f] - A short flower name somewhere between [name_f]Lily[/name_f] and [name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f] in terms of accessibility
[name_f]Margo[/name_f] - Not sure if it’s your style, but it sounds great with [name_f]Juno[/name_f]!
[name_f]Monica[/name_f] - A cross between [name_f]Vivica[/name_f] and [name_f]Monique[/name_f] that’s much more accessible than either one!
[name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] - An old-fashioned name along the lines of [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] or [name_f]Clara[/name_f] that’s still fairly underused
[name_f]Tessa[/name_f] - [name_f]Juno[/name_f] likes Contessa, maybe just [name_f]Tessa[/name_f] would be enough?
[name_u]Vega[/name_u] - Perhaps a bit more daring than [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] but it hits a similar note
[name_f]Viola[/name_f] - Another underused antique, not too dissimilar from [name_f]Vivica[/name_f]

[name_f]Nova[/name_f] sounds like a great choice to me too, [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] as well. I know a [name_f]Marcella[/name_f] nn [name_f]Marcie[/name_f] if that sounds like a good compromise to you.

I love the suggestion [name_f]Thalia[/name_f] :wink:

Other Suggestions

[name_f]Alina[/name_f]
[name_f]Aliki[/name_f]
[name_f]Aster[/name_f]
[name_f]Athena[/name_f]
Kassiane, nn [name_f]Kassie[/name_f] or [name_f]Kassia[/name_f]
[name_f]Clio[/name_f]
[name_f]Denae[/name_f]
[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Nerissa[/name_f]
[name_f]Nyssa[/name_f]
[name_f]Rhea[/name_f]
[name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Irie[/name_f]

From your original list I absolutely [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]! Pearls are the Birth Gems for [name_u]June[/name_u] and both Names are similar in length, although they are quite different in “feel”. Funnily enough I know of several Junos but no one with the First Name [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] so, for me, it is actually rarer than [name_f]Juno[/name_f]! :slight_smile:

I love the suggestions [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] and [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]!

I would also love to suggest [name_f]Viva[/name_f] and Zahli which both have the same vibrant brightness!

I adore the name [name_f]Juno[/name_f]. But I used it for my dog before I had babies :slight_smile:

[name_f]Juno[/name_f] is a mythological character so I’d go along the same general direction or o Greek / roman
I love;
[name_f]Xanthe[/name_f]
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f]
[name_f]Selene[/name_f]
[name_f]Athena[/name_f]
[name_f]Hera[/name_f]
[name_f]Leda[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f]
[name_f]Pandora[/name_f]
[name_f]Daphne[/name_f]
[name_f]Venus[/name_f]
[name_f]Diana[/name_f]
[name_f]Gaia[/name_f]
[name_f]Luna[/name_f]
[name_f]Flora[/name_f]
[name_f]Clio[/name_f]
[name_f]Persephone[/name_f]
[name_f]Cassandra[/name_f]

I also love [name_f]Christabel[/name_f]!

Also mythological are;

Freyja
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f]
[name_f]Iseult[/name_f] / [name_f]Isolde[/name_f]

Thank you everyone for the huge amount of suggestions! I’ll be looking through them really carefully.

I would like to address something that came up in regards to me “putting my foot down” with my daughter in terms of the name choice. As the mother the final decision IS mine, obviously, but as a mother it’s also important for me to include my eldest child as much as I can when it comes to the preparations of welcoming her sister.

[name_f]Juno[/name_f] will be 10 years old when the baby is born and I want them to be able to bond and I want [name_f]Juno[/name_f] to feel included, valued and important as much as possible so that she’ll know that even though there is a new baby she’ll always have her own place in my heart and an important role in the family. It’s difficult going from only child to older sibling but it is especially difficult in terms of creating strong bonds with such a large age gap. This is why I think that helping to choose her sister’s name will be good for [name_f]Juno[/name_f], since names interest her greatly already (as you can tell). Other moms may do it differently, but this is how I saw fit for our family. :slight_smile:

[name_m]Just[/name_m] wanted to add that I love [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f], [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] and [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] and think that any of them would be lovely as a sister for [name_f]Juno[/name_f] (which I also love).

Congratulations on the little one on the way! I think it’s a wonderful idea to include big sister in the naming process - it’s great that she knows that her input is so important to you and I’m sure she’ll love having that link to her baby sister.

I too have a Juno (nearly 2) so we may have similar tastes! These jumped out at me from your initial lists as great sister names for Juno, taking into account your shift in taste towards more understated, conventionally feminine, classic-with-a-twist names:

Cora
Pearl
Phoebe
Celeste
Beatrix
Vivica

You’ve got some wonderful suggestions, some of which I’m bound to repeat so apologies in advance for that, but here are some ideas for names that seem to meet in the middle of your two styles:

Vita
Viola
Saskia
Paloma
Lovisa
Lumi
Ariadne
Cassia
Calla
Eliska
Aurora
Coraline
Leonie
Leonora
Annika
Rosalie
Maren
Eloise
Clover
Gaia
Astrid
Anneli
Esme
Isabeau
Roxana
Ramona
Elodie
Valentina
Mireille
Ariana
Zelie
Jessamy
Briar
Luna
Lyra
Ismay
Seraphine
Sarai
Annora
Juliet

[name_f]Valencia[/name_f] would be perfect for you. It’s daring but has the A ending like [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] and you can call her [name_u]Val[/name_u].

I have compiled a list of my 10 favorite names suggested:

  1. [name_f]Aviva[/name_f]
  2. [name_f]Luna[/name_f]
  3. [name_f]Cosima[/name_f]
  4. [name_f]Alba[/name_f]
  5. [name_f]Alma[/name_f]
  6. [name_f]Thisbe[/name_f]
  7. [name_u]Ruby[/name_u]
  8. [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f]
  9. [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f]
  10. [name_f]Lola[/name_f]

Thank you all! For now I’ll try to work from these. :slight_smile: